CHAP. Vin.J EXTINCTION OF THE "GREAT DYNASTY." 375 



as Malaya, " the region of mountains and torrents,") 1 B.C. 

 then and at all times exhibited their superiority over 

 the lowlanders in vigour, courage, and endurance. 

 Hence the petty kingdoms of Maya and Eohuna af- 

 forded on every occasion a refuge to the royal family 

 when driven from the northern capital, and furnished 

 a force to assist in their return and restoration. Wala- 

 gam-bahu, after many years' concealment there, was 

 at last enabled to resume the offensive, and succeeded 

 in driving out the infidels, and recovering possession of 

 the sacred city, an event which he commemorated in 

 the usual manner by the construction of tanks, and the 

 erection of dagobas and wiharas. 



THE ALD W1HARA, NEAR MATELLE. 



But the achievement by which most of all he entitled 

 himself to the gratitude of the Singhalese annalists, was 

 the reduction to writing of the doctrines and discourses 

 of Buddha, which had been orally delivered by Mahindo, 

 arid previously preserved by tradition alone. These 

 sacred volumes, which may be termed the Buddhist 



1 MahaiL-anso, ch. vii. 

 B B 4 



